fications of same, dated March 29, 1883, with John Stang, of Lorain, Ohio. The amount expended during the fiscal year was $8,976.04. The piers, so far as repaired, were left in good condition at the close of the season's work, but the storms of the winter and the spring of 1884 have done still further damage to the old portion of both piers, so that extensive and extra repairs are now needed. The act of July 5, 1884, appropriates $10,000 for this harbor, which will be expended in repairs to piers and renewing superstructure so far as funds will permit, all in accordance with the existing project. The unexpected and extra repairs made and to be made at this harbor will increase the estimate for repairs and renewal and prolonging piers at least $12,000, so that the sum of $30,000 is still needed to complete the existing project. $9,127 61 July 1, 1883, amount available. July 1, 1884, amount expended during fiscal year, exclusive of outstanding liabilities July 1, 1883... 9,876 04 July 1, 1884, amount available...... Amount appropriated by act approved July 5, 1884.. Amount available for fiscal year ending June 30, 1885...... Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project................ Amount that can be profitably expended in fiscal year ending June 30, 1886. (See Appendix L L 8.) 151 57 10,000 00 10, 151 57 30,000 00 18,000 00 9. Rocky River Pier, Ohio.-The project for the improvement of this river was adopted in 1871, the object being to afford a channel of entrance 100 feet wide and from 6 to 12 feet deep; it required the construction of a pier 500 feet long, and a large amount of excavation. The pier as projected was constructed, but only a small amount of excavation was done, and no further appropriations were made for continuing the work after March 3, 1875. By the act of June 14, 1880, an appropriation of $4,000 was made for repairs, and during the years 1880 and 1881 portions of this amount were expended in placing the pier in good condition. The storms of 1883 did considerable damage to this pier, and it was repaired during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1884, by hired labor and purchase in open market, at a cost of $1,248.61. At the close of the season the pier was in fair condition, but the storms of the spring of 1884 have again damaged the pier, and considerable repairs are now needed. As the act of July 5, 1884, made no appropriation for this harbor, and as the balance on hand, $131.87, is too small to attempt any repairs, there will be no work practicable during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1885, and the damaged pier will be still further impaired. The sum of $2,000 is required for immediate repairs. July 1, 1883, amount available... $1,585 31 July 1, 1884, amount expended during fiscal year, exclusive of outstanding liabilities July 1, 1883... 1,453 44 July 1, 1884, amount available (See Appendix L L 9.) 131 87 10. Cleveland Harbor, Ohio.-The present project for the improvement of the mouth of the Cuyahoga River was adopted in 1825, and has been amended from time to time to gain increased depth; it consists of parallel piers about 200 feet apart, running out to a depth of 16 feet in the lake. When operations were commenced in 1825 there was a long, low sand-bar where the river now empties into Lake Erie, and the entrance was through a narrow, intricate channel with a depth of about 3 feet. At the close of the fiscal year ending June 30, 1884, there had been expended about $363,000, and there was, as the result, a good wide channel at the entrance to the harbor with a depth of from 17 to 20 feet between the lake and the railroad bridge at the inner end of the piers, with a pile-protection work 620 feet long at the inner end of the west pier, constructed in 1882 to prevent vessels getting on the old sunken pier. During the present fiscal year the sum of $2,688 has been expended in repairs to piers and dredging of material from channel between piers and in lake beyond piers. The storms of the winter and spring of this year did some damage to piers, and their use by vessels to lay up to also destroyed many timbers, all of which had to be repaired during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1884, at a cost of $100. The freshets of February and March, 1884, also caused a bar with a least depth of 13 feet to form in the lake beyond the end of piers and between them near their outer end. This occasioned considerable annoyance to vessels. Dredging to remove the bar was at once undertaken and was in progress and nearly completed at the close of the fiscal year, when about 10,770 cubic yards had been removed, leaving about 2,500 cubic yards yet to be excavated. When completed there will be a good channel as above stated, with least depth of 17 feet, with the piers in fair condition. The new breakwater. The present project for a harbor of refuge provides for an outer breakwater, starting from the lake shore about 700 feet west of the upper end of the old river-bed. This breakwater runs out in a direction about due north a distance of 3,130 feet to a depth of 28 feet; the angle is then turned and it runs for 4,030 feet nearly parallel to the shore, with a spur 100 feet long on the north side of the lake arm and 200 feet from its eastern end in a depth of from 28 to 30 feet. The entrance to the harbor on the east side will be protected, as at present proposed, by extending the east pier at the mouth of the river 1,400 feet. During the present fiscal year the sum of $233,824.22 has been expended, and at its close 2,055 linear feet of breakwater had been finished, which completed lake arm of the breakwater, leaving but the eastern protection to be built to complete the harbor of refuge. The act of July 5, 1884, appropriates $100,000 for the harbor of Cleveland. The engineer in charge has suggested that the plan for the closing of the eastern side of the harbor of refuge be changed, that instead of prolonging the east pier, another lake arm of breakwater be built to the eastward, leaving an opening opposite the piers of 350 feet for an entrance. This plan will give about 80 per cent. additional harbor room, will give as much protection to the original harbor as the present plan. The increased cost will be proportionally small, and the entire cost of the harbor of refuge thus enlarged will be about the amount of the revised estimate for completion upon the present plan and nearly $600,000 less than the original estimate. Since no change in the approved and adopted plan upon which the improvement is now in progress can be made without the sanction of Congress, it is proposed to refer this suggestion to a Board of Engineer Officers for examination and report, and the subject will be duly submitted for your consideration in a future communication. The balance on hand February 1, 1884, when all outstanding contracts were completed, was only $24,685.82, too small a sum to invite proposals for continuing the break water this season; hence there has been no work done this season up to July 18, 1884, and the late date at which contracts can be perfected under the appropriation of July 5, 1884, will render it impracticable to prepare for and continue construction in the lake before March, 1885, thereby causing over twelve months' delay in the work. July 1, 1883, amount available July 1, 1884, amount expended during fiscal year, exclusive of outstanding liabilities July 1, 1883. July 1, 1884, outstanding liabilities.. July 1, 1884, amount available Amount appropriated by act approved July 5, 1884 Amount available for fiscal year ending June 30, 1885. $250,734 34 $228,856 08 231,494 61 19, 239 73 100, 000 00 119,239 73 Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project.. 300,000 00 Amount that can be profitably expended in fiscal year ending June 30, 1886. 300,000 00 (See Appendix L L 10.) 11. Fairport Harbor, mouth of Grand River, Ohio.-The present project for the improvement of this harbor consists of parallel piers, 200 feet apart, running out into the lake. It was adopted in 1825, and has been modified by prolonging the piers from time to time, so as to gain increased depth, the object being to afford a channel of entrance of navigable width, and not less than 16 feet in depth. When the work of improvement was commenced, in 1826, the mouth of the river was closed by a sand-bar 1,200 feet wide, at times so hard and dry that teams could be driven across. In 1829 the depth in the channel was about 8 feet, and in 1839, when work was suspended, there was a depth of 11 feet, and any vessel then navigating the lakes could enter at any time without dauger. In 1865 the piers were found to be seriously dilapidated; in 1870 there was a depth of 12 feet in the channel; in 1879 this depth was increased to 14 feet; in 1881 to 15 feet, and at the close of the fiscal year ending June 30, 1884, there was a good channel between the piers, with least depth of 16 feet at low water; but a bar had formed in the lake beyond piers, with least depth of 12 feet at ordinary level of the lake. During the fiscal year the work under the contract of October 6, 1882, was completed, by which the west pier was extended 160 feet, the su perstructure of west pier repaired and leveled up where settlement had taken place, and minor repairs made to east pier. The sum of $13,170.69 was expended during the fiscal year. The total amount expended for this harbor is $227,245.41. The act of July 5, 1884, appropriates the sum of $10,000 for this harbor, which will be expended during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1885, in dredging bar in the lake, in extending and repairs to piers. The sum of $30,000 can be expended during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1886, in prolonging the piers and in dredging in accordance with existing project. July 1, 1883, amount available... July 1, 1884, amount expended during fiscal year, exclusive of outstanding liabilities July 1, 1883 Amount appropriated by act approved July 5, 1884. July 1, 1884, amount available...... Amount available for fiscal year ending June 30, 1885 ..... $13,595 77 13, 170 69 425 08 10,000 00 10,425 08 50,000 00 Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project.... Amount that can be profitably expended in fiscal year ending June 30, 1886. 30,000 00 (See Appendix L L 11.) EXAMINATIONS AND SURVEYS FOR IMPROVEMENTS TO COMPLY WITH REQUIREMENTS OF THE RIVER AND HARBOR ACT OF AUGUST 2, 1882. An examination was made in October, 1882, by the local engineer then in charge, Maj. John M. Wilson, Corps of Engineers, of the channel known as the Old River-bed, leading from Cuyahoga River to the harbor of refuge, now under construction at Cleveland, Ohio, and reported as worthy of improvement, but the work not a public necessity at this time. (See Appendix L L 12.) IMPROVEMENT OF THE HARBORS ON LAKE ERIE, AT ASHTABULA AND CONNEAUT, OHIO; ERIE, PENNSYLVANIA; AND DUNKIRK AND BUFFALO, NEW YORK; IMPROVEMENT OF NIAGARA RIVER. Officer in charge of Niagara River and Buffalo Harbor, Lieut. Col. H. M. Robert, Corps of Engineers, to November 30, 1883. Since that date, Capt. Edward Maguire, Corps of Engineers. Officer in charge of harbors at Ashtabula, Conneaut, Erie, and Dunkirk, Maj. M. B. Adams, Corps of Engineers, to November 27, 1883. Since that date, Capt. Edward Maguire, Corps of Engineers. 1. Ashtabula Harbor, Ohio.-The original project for the improvement of this harbor was adopted in 1826; the rock bottom was then found at 9 feet below the water surface, and there was a depth of only 2 feet of water on the bar at the entrance when operations were commenced. The project provided piers running out on either side of the mouth of the river from shore to 12 feet water in the lake. The present project contemplates the extension of the piers out to 16 feet water, the removal of the decayed portions of both piers, and rebuilding with new material, at the same time straightening the line of the west pier so as to afford a uniform width of 160 feet in the channel. Operations were commenced in 1826, and have been prosecuted with more or less interruptions and suspensions (no work was done between 1839 and 1865) and have resulted in a much improved harbor. The close of the present fiscal year leaves a good, wide channel, 153 to 16 feet deep, from the lake into the harbor. There has been appropriated a total of $349,901.21 up to the close of the fiscal year June 30, 1884, of which amount the sum of $344,082.17 has been expended. During the fiscal year the west pier was extended shoreward 280 linear feet. Some repairs were made to the east pier and a portion of the channel was dredged. Revised estimates submitted by the officer in charge give the sum of $80,250 as required to complete the existing project, of which amount the sum of $35,000 can be profitably expended during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1886, in removing and extending the piers, and in dredg ing and rock excavation. It is probable that dredging will have to be carried on at this harbor as frequently as once in two years, in order to maintain a depth of 16 feet in the channel. July 1, 1883, amount available.. July 1, 1884, amount expended during fiscal year, exclusive of $21, 169 43 outstanding liabilities July 1, 1883.. July 1, 1884, outstanding liabilities.. July 1, 1884, amount available.... Amount appropriated by act approved July 5, 1884. Amount available for fiscal year ending June 30, 1885..... $15, 350 39 3, 123 62 18, 474 01 Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project.... Amount that can be profitably expended in fiscal year ending June 30, 1886. (See Appendix M M 1.) 2,695 42 22,500 00 25, 195 42 80, 250 00 35,000 00 2. Conneaut Harbor, Ohio.-The original project for the improvement of this harbor was adopted in 1829. Öperations were carried on during the years 1829 to 1832, and from 1836 to 1838, inclusive, which consisted in the construction of piers 125 feet apart, running from shore out to a depth of 12 feet of water in the lake, and in dredging. The design was to afford a depth of 12 feet of water through the bar at the mouth of Conneaut Creek, which bar was dry at low water when work was comienced. The improvements have been prosecuted at this harbor with more or less interruptions and suspensions; no work was done from 1839 to 1844, from 1845 to 1852, from 1853 to 1866, and none last year or this. The best channel depth ever obtained was 11 feet, and the more usual depth has been 8 or 9 feet. The present depth of water on the bar is 10 feet. Up to the close of the present fiscal year the sum of $112,629.39 has been appropriated for this harbor, of which sum $112,609.71 has been expended. The present project for this improvement contemplates rebuilding the east pier and renewing the superstructure of the west pier at an estimated cost of $35,090. The commerce of the port has always been small. July 1, 1883, amount available July 1, 1884, amount expended during fiscal year, exclusive of outstanding liabilities July 1, 1883.. July 1, 1884, amount available... $53 18 33 50 19 68 35,090 00 Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project....... Amount that can be profitably expended in fiscal year ending June 30, 1886. 35,000 00 (See Appendix M M 2.) 3. Erie Harbor, Pennsylvania.-The original survey of this harbor was made in 1819, at which time the channel was narrow and tortuous, with a depth of only 6 feet. In 1823 a plan for the improvement of the harbor, proposed by a Board of Engineers, was adopted, which constitutes the present protection at the entrance of the harbor, excepting some changes which have been required either on account of the age of the structure originally built or other causes. The piers have been extended from time to time and are now in good condition. The present project contemplates their extension out to 16 feet of water in the lake, and the maintenance of 16 feet of water in the channel from the harbor inside to the lake outside. Operations have been prosecuted with more or less interruptions and suspensions (no work was done from 1838 to 1842, from 1846 to |